Monday, March 1, 2010

Theme day: Passageway

This is one of my favorite passageways in town. It's at the Huntington Library and Gardens, so hidden from the main part of the gardens that for several years I didn't even know it was there. On either side of this alleyway are some of the oldest original orange groves in the San Gabriel Valley, part of the ranch acquired by Henry Huntington over 100 years ago. Not for tourist eating!

Later this week I'll show you where the passageway leads. In the meantime, tomorrow we'll attend to Zen Tuesday.

I don't know much about this land before Huntington bought it. There may have bustles worn along this alley before then, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bustlebut probably not while he was there (after 1903). His wife, Arabella, was very stylish. By that I don't mean faddish. She would have worn what was expensive and proper for a rich woman.

A little-known fact: Yes, The Huntington is in San Marino but a small portion is inside the Pasadena city limits. The City of Pasadena has a long-standing, ongoing relationship with The Huntington. Sometimes we have staff retreats and other meetings over there, which is a real treat.

Monsters jump out and reprimand you if you pick an orange, Margaret. Or so I've heard.

Would that be in the northwest part, Ann? In looking at an overhead Google photo of the Huntington I see that a huge portion of the grounds, maybe 1/4 or more, is undeveloped and not open to the public. Of course that's the part I want to explore. (Hiker.)

Katie, when you were here I vaguely knew this existed but didn't know where it was. Now I know.